What do you think?

I think it largely depends on your defenition of ‘Creationism’ as there are several different beliefs even concerning that (old earth, new earth, evolution, common ancestor, etc…).

My view comes mostly from Rowan Williams, The Archbishop of Canterbury. Actually Andrew Cotrill pointed out Rowan’s view to me, then I did some further research and such.

I will post my more complete view on Creation, teaching Creationism, and the like in the coming week, but want to see if I can spark some discussion to make the blog/facebook note a little more interactive.

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Posted by John Ortberg

Messianism. The sin of believing that a merely human person or system can usher in the eschaton. This is often tipped off by phrases like: “The most important election of our lifetime” (which one wasn’t?); or “God’s man for the hour.”

Selective Scripturization. The sin of using Scripture to reinforce whatever attitude toward the president you feel like holding, while shellacking it with a thin spiritual veneer. If the candidate you like holds office, you consistently point people toward Romans 13: “Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established.” If your candidate lost, you consistently point people to Acts 4:10 where Peter and John say to the Sanhedrin: “Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to obey you rather than God.” It’s just lucky for us the Bible is such a big book.

Easy Believism. This is the sin of believing the worst about a candidate you disagree with, because when you want them to lose you actually want to believe bad things about them. “Love is patient, love is kind,” Paul said. “Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices in the truth.” But in Paul’s day nobody ran for Caesar. There was no talk radio.

Episodism. The sin of being engaged in civic life only on a random basis. The real issues never go away, but we’re tempted to give them our attention only when the news about them is controversial, or simplistic, or emotionally charged. Sustained attention to vital but unsexy issues is not our strong suit.

Alarmism. A friend of mine used to work for an organization that claimed both Christian identity and a particular political orientation. They actually liked it when a president was elected of the opposite persuasion, because it meant they could raise a lot more money. It is in their financial interests to convince their constituents that the president is less sane than Jack Nicholson in The Shining. Alarmists on both sides of the spectrum make it sound like we’re electing a Bogeyman-in-Chief every four years. I sometimes think we should move the election up a few days to October 31.

One Issue-ism. Justifying our intolerance of complexity and nuance by collapsing a decision into a simplistic and superficial framework.

Pride. I couldn’t think of a snappy title for this one. But politics, after all, is largely about power. And power goes to the core of our issues of control and narcissism and need to be right and tendency to divide the human race into ‘us’ vs. ‘them.’

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I haven’t a clue who these people are, but it is a great message nonetheless.

taken from Eugene Cho’s Beauty and Depravity

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Well the results are in. Some are happy, others are clearly not.

I think most people know where I stand, but I want to stress the importance of not relaxing now, as the real work is just getting under way.

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My webcam isn’t working properly, or at least it isn’t recording sound. I found that out the hard way after recording this video with Dru and Nate (one of Dru’s friends). We didn’t really say anything important, but you can see our costumes. I am a Beaver, Dru is a Hare, and Nate is an Eagle. You can’t see the best part of my costume, that is the beaver tail I am sitting on….

Anyways, I have several random thoughts I wanted to blog about, but have been holding off on because of the broken recorder, but I will forget if I don’t just post them…

You aren’t allowed to sell alcohol in grocery stores in Minnesota. I found this out by asking the guy at the store where the Beer and Wine section is. He told me that they aren’t allowed to sell it in grocery stores. I think it is an old law that has to do with religious reasons. Seriously, religion sucks. You have to go to a specialty alcohol store to buy beer and wine, but of course they are closed on Sundays. Damnit, I just want a bottle of wine to go with this soup I am making today.

It hasn’t been cold at all yet. It has actually been really nice. I mean, chilly, but like mid 60’s. Everyone has told me a million times that it is going to be really cold. Seriously? It is cold here? NO WAY.

I have hung out with people the last two nights in a row. Not people on the internet either. Like, real flesh and blood and smells people. Not only that, I enjoy hanging out with them, which is almost unheard of for the last year. I say almost out of fear that both of you who read this blog are the people I have hung out with…

I guess Minneapolis is a dangerous city? I saw a guy get arrested the first night I was here, and got told not to walk around certain neighborhoods alone at night….Which means I have plans tonight, and if you don’t hear from me soon, something bad happened.

I crack up every time I read Genesis 25, when Esau sells his birthright to Jacob. Jacob is making some stew, and Esau is hungry so he demands to Jacob “give me some of that red stuff.” I am going to start calling stew ‘red stuff’ from now on. Seriously, who thinks this up?

I went to John Piper’s church today. I have never been to a church where so many people wore dresses and suits. Granted, the churches I go to usually have smoking sections and after church pub crawls….sorta.

I saw Copeland on Halloween night. It was amazing, they played an awesome set, and closed with ‘California’ which was great.

Rob Bell’s latest sermon was crazy good.

Anyways, a few random things that are going on. I am sure I will post more oddities about the Mid-West as time goes on. Like their weird accents and how they think they have good coffee.

Leave a comment if you like, on my facebook or blog, either one. I would like to get an idea of who, if anyone, actually reads this…

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I made a trip to the bookstore, and picked up two awesome books. The Blue Parakeet by Scot McKnight and The Green Bible by a bunch of weirdos.

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Sometimes I really think Christian television is aimed at people that are high or drunk, because the things they show are seriously the funniest things on all of television sometimes. I was completely sober when I found this and recorded this video, and I still found it absolutely hilarious.

So after recording this video, the scene switched to kittens playing on a couch or something. I kid you not, on kitten was completely straddling the other kitten, and started semi-humping the little thing. I was absolutely cracking up. Whoever put this on T.V. must not have watched it before, because it was really awkward to see some verse from Isaiah pop up while two kittens were getting it on in the background.

Again, I point out, this would be far too funny were I high.

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I just sorta stumbled upon this browsing around YouTube, and think it deserves a bit more attention.

It is really weird, because I am in the video, along with some of my best friends, and actually remember taking some of these pictures.

I haven’t been thinking about Capernwray a whole lot until today actually. I was on a walk, and it is the leaves are really starting to turn color.

I remember this time of year two years ago, in England. Everything was so beautiful, making new friends, meeting new people, getting used to accents (mid-west accents mostly, Stacey’s was killer).

Favorite Stacey memory:

Sara, Andrea, Stacey and myself (yeah I traveled with 3 girls, it was…….actually it was awesome because I love them all a lot) were in Portugal for a few nights, specifically in Logos, in an awesome Condo. The whole trip, Stacey had been wearing these sunglasses, very normal sunglasses that looked nice on her. Anyway, the night before we were leaving, as we were all packing up our belongings (and Andrea was dying her sweatshirt blue) Stacey comes running into the room holding a pair of sunglasses, asking "Who’s are these? I really like them!" Andrea, Sara, and I look at each other thinking she is joking.

"Stacey, those are your sunglasses, you have been wearing them all week"

After the trip was complete, we made an exciting Quote list (well Sara and Stacey made a quote list, while Andrea and I were stuck in Madrid). I thought it would be good to share it, even though only three people will even slightly laugh at the inside jokes (Stace is always laughing, so she doesn’t count).

Quotes, Portugal and Madrid 2007:

“I thought Porto stood for Portugal….”- Andrea
“There’s only 3 of you, so it’s all fine. But what about the cot?”- Hotel Clerk
“So, wait. We’re taking a 15 hour bus ride to Madrid? Today? Is that why everyone was so stressed?”- Andrea
“Let’s just rent a car and drive to Madrid.” - Stacey
“Where’s the beach?”- All
“You think I could make it to the grocery store in, like, 20 minutes?” (-Michael) “Ya, why?” (Sara) “Well, I’m thinkin’… banana pancakes.”
“Making banana pancakes…” -Stacey, singing
“Ummm, my wallet isn’t here…”-Andrea
“He said all we can bring on the bus is water and medicine.”- Sara
“I lost my flip flops.” -Stacey
“I lost my shirt.” - Stacey
“Whose sunglasses are these?”- Stacey
“Water’s usually downhill, so just walk that way.” - Michael
“So, this market is, like, a church garage sale.”- Michael
“Let’s just try this hotel.” - Stacey, upon walking into the hotel in Porto while the rest were discussing the idea.
“Girls ” - Michael, waving….
“I’ve got my pen ” Michael, whipping it out of his pocket.
“That kid just tried to steal my wallet.” (Michael) “Umm, I think he just stole mine.” (Sara)
“I’m a little embarrassed to be staying in this resort.” - Michael
“How do you make sky blue?” -Stacey
“It’s weird that we’ve been travelling together for awhile and we don’t know each other’s deepest problems.” -Andrea
“I want to punch someone.” - Andrea
“No, I think the supermarket is that way….” -All

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